Sounds from St. Olaf Digital Concert Series
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SOUNDS FROM ST. OLAF DIGITAL CONCERT SERIES REMEMBRANCE, HOPE, AND JOY JILL MAHR AND TIMOTHY MAHR '78, HOSTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2020 ST. OLAF BAND Timothy Mahr '78, conductor To Gold in Broadest Blue Jocelyn Hagen '03 (b. 1980) Jocelyn Hagen, a native of North Dakota, composes music that has been described as “dramatic and deeply moving” and “completely original in all respects.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune). She makes her living as a full-time musician, primarily as a composer. She has received grants and awards from American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the American Composers Forum, Minnesota Music Educators Association, the McKnight Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, and a wealth of ensembles and performing artists. Hagen wrote To Gold in Broadest Blue as a musical impression of the countryside and her feelings of home: warm, golden fields and a broad, blue sky. The work is dedicated to her father and was commissioned by the Midwest District of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi. It was premiered by the North Dakota State University Gold Star Band, Warren Olfert, conductor. —Notes by Dr. Timothy Mahr ST. OLAF HANDBELL CHOIR Jill Mahr, conductor Compassion Jason Krug (b. 1978) ST. OLAF PHILHARMONIA Steven Amundson, conductor SPIRIT Jonathan Thomas Madden '20 (b. 1998) The composer writes: The meaning for this piece seemed to be the result of actually writing it. Many of the core elements and thematic material for SPIRIT have been meandering around in my manuscript paper notebooks since approximately 2015, with the newest material for the work written as recently as December of 2018. In its most primitive state, the piece was a string quartet, but I allowed myself to have the patience to let the piece grow organically. It was only recently that it blossomed into my first original work for full orchestra. After experiencing this music’s evolution into the work you will hear today, I am filled with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. This fulfillment fostered (and continues to foster) a kind of joy that derives from the feeling of accomplishment. It is this joy that I believe to be at the very heart of SPIRIT. Jonathan Madden '20 is a native of Rochester, New York, who graduated with a bachelor of music degree in composition at St. Olaf College, and studied with Christopher Atzinger (piano), James E. Bobb (organ), and Timothy Mahr (composition). He is grateful to have had premiers of his works from the Viking Chorus, the Manitou Singers, St. Olaf Chamber Singers, Norseman Band, and St. Olaf Jazz 1 ensembles. He was a member of the St. Olaf Choir, a pianist for the Gospel Choir of St. Olaf, and was active as a music director and pianist for musical theater. VIKING CHORUS Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, conductor Crossing Mari Esabel Valverde '10 (b. 1982) ST. OLAF BAND Timothy Mahr '78, conductor Symphony No. 1 Timothy Mahr '78 (b. 1956) III. “I thank my God for every remembrance of you” —Paul, writing to the early Greek Christians in Philippi Philippians 1:3 (King James Version) ST. OLAF CHAMBER SINGERS Therees Tkach Hibbard, conductor Exsultate Deo Alessandro Scarlatti (1660–1725) Sing joyfully to God our strength; sing loud unto the God of Jacob! —Psalm 80:2 (Vulgate) MANITOU SINGERS Therees Tkach Hibbard, conductor Song of Miriam Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1979) ST. OLAF HANDBELL CHOIR Jill Mahr, conductor Drive Alex Guebert (b. 1989) ST. OLAF BAND Timothy Mahr '78, conductor Three Revelations from the Lotus Sutra Alfred Reed (b. 1921) III. Rejoicing TEXTS/TRANSLATIONS REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF ONELICENSE .